Bifurcated leg structure optionally supporting luggage sections in horizontal or in vertical and horizontal positions



P 1950 M. L. WALLACE 2,522,322

v BIFURCATED LEG STRUCTURE OPTIONALLY SUPPORTING LUGGAGE sEc'rIoNs INHORIZONTAL on m VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL POSITIONS Filed March' 8, 1948 i2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

M47775 Zoo/:6 h44 Ac Arraewsy 'Fild March 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept.12, 1950 M. WALLACE 2,522,322

BIFURCATED LEG STRUCTURE OPTIONALLY SUPPORTING LUGGAGE SECTIONS INHORIZONTAL OR IN VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL POSITIONS INVEN TOR.

Marne- (awash 4424c: BY

W Arraewey Patented'Sept. 12, 1950 BIFURCATED LEG STRUCTURE OPTIONAL-.LY SUPPORTING LUGGAGE SECTIONS IN HORIZONTALOR IN VERTICAL AND HORI-ZONTAL POSITIONS Mattie Louise Wallace, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 8, 1948, Serial No. 13,628

1 Claim.

This invention relates to baggage, and more particularly'to an articleof luggage which is convertible into an alternative form capable ofafiording convenience as a table.

Other features include the provision of detachable and longitudinallyadjustable legs for said container which may be collapsed and stored orcarried within the container when the latter is in folded position.Another advantage resides in the provision of aligned socket members inthe opposite sections of the foldable container, which sockets extendinto the interior thereof without being in communication with theinterior of the container so as to allow the insertion therein ofcollapsible and detachable legs without leaving any openings in thecontainers outer walls through which contents of the container otherwisemight be lost and through which dust and moisture otherwise might enter.

A further object in this connection is so to design and arrange thesockets, as well as the portions of certain ones of the detachablesupporting legs, that they operate to support the container optionallyin either of two alternative positions of adjustment, one of which iswith both its sections arranged horizontally, so that they co-operatewith each other in serving as a flat-topped table, and the other ofwhich is with one section horizontal and the other extending upwardsfrom one edge of the horizontal section, thus affording convenience foruse as a dressing table or make-up stand.

The invention is here illustrated by its embodiment in a suitcaseorsimilar container and the provision of such a novel travelling bag isalso among the purposes of the present invention which, however, is notto be limited in its scope to such embodiment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention' will be apparent from thefollowing descript on and claim, the novelty consisting in the featuresof construction, combination of parts, the unique relations of themembers and the relative proportioning, disposition, and operationthereof. all as more completely pointed out in the appended cla m. r y

In the drawings, which form part of the present specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foldable case or container embodyingthe principles of my invention.

' 1 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container shown in openposition and mounted upon its detachableand adjustable legs. 1

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken through thesupported container along the line 33 of Figure '2. Flgure 4 is an endelevational' view drawn to' reduced scale and showing the containersupported in a half-open or L-shaped position.

Figure 5 is a detail, fragmentary view in perspective, particularlyshowing the arrangement of the mounting sockets in adjacent corners oftwo halves of the container.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the foldable case shown mounted uponits detachable legs in open position and provided with several separatecompartments in each half of the case.

' Figure 7 is a perspective view of the individual compartments of oneside of the case, shown removed therefrom.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line8-8 of Figure '7 and showing the manner-of engagement of aremovablecompartment lid with an adjacent wall of its compartment.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line99 of Figure 7, particularly showing the finger slot for lifting theclosure lid of one of the compartments.

' Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the lid of one of the sidecompartments of the group shown in Figure 7.

As illustrated, there is provided a generally rigid container ll hereshown as having the general form of a conventional suit case andcomprising a pair of similar and confronting sections l2 and I4,hingedly connected along a common longitudinal edge It, preferably eachsection being provided with a longitudinal, juxtaposed handle [8 and 20,respectively, along the outer face of the edge 2| opposite the hingededge It. The hinges 22 and 24 are disposed so thatthe bottom sides 26and 28 of the two sections of the container will abut against each otherwhen the case is opened to a horizontal position, in such position theupright walls of the two halves of the case serving thus to define acorresponding pair of open topped receptacles 30 and 32, as shown inFigures '2 and 3.

Formed. integral with or attached to the ads jacent side walls of therespective case sections I2 and M, are three parallel socket members 34,35,36, and 31, 38, 39, respectively, opening to the outside andextending approximately the depthor height of the respective receptacle30, 32. The first two of each trio of sockets aredisposed at oppositeends of the respective bottom wall 26 or 28 so as to be located indownwardly opening, vertical position when the case is opened to ahorizontal position as illustrated. The third any danger of losing artices from the container ll therethrough, as well as entry of dust ormoisture into the containers interior through any of the sockets.

Four collapsible legs are provided for insertion in the six sockets. 44for the sockets 35 and 39 associated with the containers top walls areinterchangeable with each other. These legs 42 and M are individuallyconstructed of a pair of longitudinally telescoping members, of whichthe upper tubular member 46 has an outer diameter which permits itsupper extremity to be detachably inserted more 'orless snugly within thesocket 36 or 39, while the lower, usually solid rod 48 is of an externaldiameter corresponding generally-to the inside of said tube so as to beslidable therein, being .secure-lyheld at the :desired position of.-emens'ion by means of a set screw 56 threadediy mounted in the uppermember.

lhe other two legs are also interchangeable with each other andareprovided with a biifurcate upper portion 52 so thateach'leg may beinserted jointly in two adjacent sockets. The parallel ends 5 and 560ithese legs above the baseof the fork are thus 'adap'ted'to be insertedsimultaneously'into the juxtaposed'sockets 3d and 3 5,01 '35 and 38, asthe case may be. The lower rodportion 58 is telescopically mounted wlt'hin' th'e tube '52 and retained at the desired location therealong bya set screw-fill similar to the assembly of the single legs. By thisconstruction, the two upper arms 54 and fifi'serve to brace the twosections 42 and I l of the case in their open position withrespect toeach other. 1

In the alternative, 'as illustrated in Figure-4, when only one arm ofthe bifurcated -supportiz is inserted in its socket, theadjacentparallel end may serve to support the opposite section 4 2 or il in an upright-position by contact at its upper end with the outer faceof the bottom wall Zliso that the two sections are supportedapproximately=at right-angles to each other or in a generally L-shapedposition. Such arrangement may be-of particular value, forexample, onconservingspace in a room or closet while still positioning the caseinan opener-accessible position. In other words, the upright sectioncould be located against the side wall of a roomor closet inthisposition and both sections would still be easily accessibleforinserting and withdrawing articles as needed. When so arranged, the casewouldafford convenience as a dressing table or make'up stand. I When thetwo sections l2 and Marc both sup= ported -in horizontal position,provision of a flat surface across their open top readily makes themuseable as a serving table or stand. One such arra'ngementis illustratedin Figures '6' to 10, inclusive, wherein the two sections of thecontainer are each provided with multiple compartments having individualfiat covers for the several compartments. The section M is here shown.provided with threeindividual receptacles or trays 62, 6-4 and'fifiadapted to be nested within the cavity 32' and being generallyrectangular except forcurved portions adapted to conform to the outercurvature of an adjacent corner or median leg socket. Ihe end trays 652and 5B areprovided with shallow dimples or recesses 68 along their innersurfaces adjacent their upper edge, while the lid member 1-0 is providedwith correspondingly positioned lugs 12 adapted to seat within therecesses 68. In addition, the lid is provided with a sunken recess M inits upper face, undercut at on'e side-thereof so as to enable the userto The two straight legs 42 and 4 insert a finger under the same andlift the lid thereby. The lids ll! may, if desired, be provided withoneormorespringepressed'detents 8i! adapted to-se'at in the-adjacentsocket53.

It will be apparent that, particularly with this latter construction,individual compartments or trays may be used to store and transport avariety of articles whichof course, are in no wise necessarily limitedto clothing. For instance, the present construction be employed inproviding food containers for picnics or the like, or again severalcompartments may be used to store -difierent games, cooking utensils,other apparatus such as physicians implements, or infants clothandaccessories.

It will thus be evident that I have produced a. foldable case of igreat"adaptability which can be quickly and-easily set up-at anyde'sireddocationas well as readily adjusted f'ora variety-of elevations.

While I have shown and described in some detail a presently-preferred'emb'odiment cf my foldable case,-1t is to be understood that variousmodifications may be made in the construction and operation thereofwithin'the scopeof the subsequently claimed-invention which is toibeconstrued broadly and {limited only by the prior art.

lclaim:

An extensible container "comprising a "pair of hingedly interconnectedsections, each oitsaid-sections having top, bottom, end, and side wallswhich form a receptacle shell, said-sections being ahingedly connectedalong adjacent edges of said bottom walls so asto be movable from 'aclosed, vertical position to either awfully open position, in whichtheside -wall' ofeach of'said sections assumes a hori-zontal'position andsaid top, bottom andend wallsextend upwards from said side walls, or toa half open positionpin which one of said sections remains vertical-andthe other of-sai'd sections is pivoted from 'a vertical to a horizontalpositiomsocketslocatedhdjacent -each-of said bottom walls and adjacentat least one of sam -top walls' of the "case and Opening downwards wheneach-section is horizontally disposed, and detachablelegs 'adapted to beinserted in said socketsso as to support the open container in a-nelevated position, said legs including at least-one bifurcate l'eg one0f-said leg furcations being insertable in one-of 'said-bottorn wallsockets, and the other furcation being selectively insertable in theadjacent bottom wall socket "when said. sections have assumed a fullyopen position, or disposed "against "the outside surface of'the bottomwall or that-section which remains vertical when said sections assume ahalf-open-position MATTIE -LOUISE WALEACE.

I REFERENCES -.CI.'I.ED

The following references are of record inthe file of this patent;

UNITED STATES'PA IENTS' Number Name Date 661,194 Rothsc'ltlld et'al."NOV. 6, 1990 873,855 Goldin Dec."1'7,"1907 1,176,473 Lorin'g Mar.21,1916

1,211,829 Eades Jan. 9, 191"? 1,533,494 l3illburg "Apr. 14,1925 FOREIGN.PATIENTS Number Country Date 394,195 FrZan'ce Nov. 20, 1908

